January 4, 2021
The fireplace. Over the holiday season it’s a traditional centrepiece, decorated with holly and ivy, or festive garlands of green and red. Over the winter however, it’s a symbolism of warmth and comfort. A place to heat up after a particularly cold walk, or a place to settle in with a book whilst the winter […]
December 14, 2020
Here at Silkwood Traders, you may have often heard us mention jackfruit wood and the Jackfruit tree. Jackfruit wood is a material used to make a great number of our products, including our bowls, trinket boxes, tealights, wine holders and our vases. The Jackfruit tree however is one of our favourite trees to celebrate. Why? […]
December 10, 2020
Lacquerware has a long and decorated history. In Vietnam, it is referred to as Sơn Mài where lacquer was used as one of the original Vietnamese painting materials. Though lacquer is used in association with Chinese or Japanese handicrafts – often paintings – the difference between the two is the grinding technique used by the […]
December 2, 2020
A problem those keen on collecting lacquerware items face is: How can you tell if it’s real? Whilst we at Silkwood Traders know our items are all genuine because we have built personal relationships with the designers and makers in Vietnam, that doesn’t mean each and every piece outside of the lacquer selling community is […]
November 15, 2020
One of the most commonly asked questions around Vietnamese Lacquerware is… What exactly is it? Lacquer is a natural resin which is carefully extracted from the cây sơn tree, most commonly found high in the mountains of Phú Thọ Province. The resin is harvested much the same way as rubber: An incision is made into […]
August 12, 2020
Hi – our online shop is now back open and stocked up. Looking forward to seeing you very soon!
April 20, 2020
In line with Government requirements regarding Government financial support for small businesses, Silkwood Traders is currently closed. Our website is open for browsing but the shopping cart has been disabled. Please contact us by email at info@silkwoodtraders.com or call 01736 600258 with any sales, product or order enquiries. We’ll email you when we reopen so […]
April 1, 2020
Thank you so much to our customers who are continuing to support us by buying from our small, independent two person business. These are strange and testing times for all and John and I daily count our blessings for all that we still do have. We are still able to receive and pack orders and […]
September 23, 2019
I’m so excited to be able to share with you our video featuring our wooden lacquer bowls, coasters and vases. We wanted to produce something that really showcased our products and demonstrated how they can be used. The super-talented film-maker Jordan Weeks absolutely nailed it and we are so lucky to have amazing friends, Fee […]
March 22, 2019
I’ve finally knuckled down and decided to have a go at making a video. Now we’re not talking The Favourite or A Star is Born but I am a little bit chuffed with my efforts! I’ve been reading a lot online about how videos are the way of the future and I have to agree. […]